‘Are you sure you want to go on your honeymoon alone?’ Mandy asks.

‘I just thought it would be better than being at home facing the music,’ I say. ‘Getting to enjoy my honeymoon is the least I deserve, right?’

‘Of course,’ my mum replies. ‘Just keep in touch, let us know you’re okay.’

‘I will. I’m so sorry about all of this.’

I feel emotion creeping into my words, causing my voice to crack.

‘You have nothing to apologise for,’ my mum insists firmly. ‘Now go and have some fun, okay? We love you so much.’

‘Love you, sis,’ Mandy calls out.

‘Love you both too,’ I reply. ‘Thank you.’

Wow, somehow I feel even worse for hearing their voices. I know that I should probably feel comforted, hearing from people who love me, but I love them too, and hearing them so upset makes me even more furious at Daniel. Cheating affects more than just the two people involved; the ripples stretch far and wide. Hearing my mum so upset shifts me from sadness to anger again. Daniel is lucky I’ve got him blocked, just in case he did try to call right now.

I grab my phone from my bag and look up where I’m headed on my solo honeymoon for the millionth time. At first, I would be looking it up constantly, um-ing and ah-ing about whether or not it was the right place to book. Then, after I booked it, I would gaze at the website longingly at least once a day, marvelling at the stunning pictures, counting down the seconds until it was time to go. Now I’m just looking to see how dumb an idea going alone might actually be.

Just off the coast of Naples is a private island called San Valentino – or Valentine Island, as the English website and brochure call it. The Italian name is much better, isn’t it? Such a beautiful, sexy-sounding name. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound quite so great in my North London accent, so I’ve just been calling it by its English, touristy title, Valentine Island.

Valentine Island is a luxury, five-star resort designed for couples who are madly in love – the website says it’s perfect for honeymooners, which is why I booked it. It calls itself ‘the most romantic place on earth’, but so does every review I have read too, so it must be something special. It’s supposed to have action-packed activities, if that’s the sort of thing you’re into, or it can be the ultimate place to chill out with your significant other. Perfect for some hardcore relaxing, in a hot sunny country.

Oh, it’s going to be so romantic, when I show up on my own. I can eat on my own, sleep on my own… the only person I have to talk to is myself, and as for honeymoon sex – supposedly the best sex of your life – well, we’ll see how good that is with myself, won’t we? I suspect I’ll have a headache again then too.